VGCC Offers Religions Of World Course

Recent world events have focused attention on the Islam religion, and that is one of five Major Religions of the World to be covered in a continuing education course beginning Feb. 7 at Vance-Granville Community College.

Rev. Rick Brand, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Henderson, will teach the eight-week course. It will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Thursdays on the main campus in Vance County. This is the first time this course has been offered at Vance-Granville.

“Events of Sept. 11, 2001, have reminded us all that there are many other religions in the world than Christianity, and what those religions teach have an impact on us here in the United States,” Brand said.

The course will include two sessions on Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, and one each on Confucianism and Judaism. Studies will seek to discover how each of these major religions answer the fundamental questions of life. Upon completion of the eight weeks, participants should be able to tell what each of the major religions affirms about creation, ethics, redemption, salvation and humanity, Brand said.

Rev. Brand is a graduate of Davidson College and the Princeton Theological Seminary, and he has been pastor at First Presbyterian Church since 1993.

Interested persons should call the VGCC Continuing Education Office at (252) 492-2061 to register for this course.